Virginia Distillery Company plans to release the first batch of its Brewers Batch Virginia-Highland Whisky this week. Batch #1 was done in collaboration with Three Notch’d Brewing Company, a Central Virginia brewery. Release parties at both the distillery’s Visitors Center as well as the brewery will take place on February 10, 2018.

Three Notch’d Brewing created a Wee Heavy style beer especially for batch #1 called “Stage Road”. The brewery used Virginia Distillery Company’s whisky casks to age the beer for a number of months and Virginia Distillery Company took the barrels back for finishing this inaugural release of Brewers Batch. The whisky finished in these casks for 12 months.

Along with an annual Virginia project, the Brewers Batch collaboration will expand to collaborations with breweries in markets outside of Virginia where Virginia Distillery Company whisky is available. The second batch is currently being planned with Three Stars Brewing in Washington, D.C. with an anticipated release of Fall 2018.

“We love collaborating with different makers on releases,” Virginia Distillery Company’s CEO Gareth H. Moore says. “The Brewers Batch Virginia-Highland Whisky has provided a fun chance to work with a great quality brewery that happens to be close to home, Three Notch’d Brewing Company.”

The new whisky will be available beginning Feb. 10 at the Virginia Distillery Company Visitors Center at 299 Eades Lane in Lovingston, VA 22949. Three Notch’d Brewing is hosting a collaboration celebration party on Feb. 10 at their Charlottesville brewery and restaurant, Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen and Brewery, from 4 to 8 p.m.

“I would’ve never guessed that whisky could pick up flavors from beer barrels, but Virginia Distillery Company made it happen,” says Dave Warwick, brewmaster at Three Notch’d Brewing Company. “Seeing our logo on a whisky bottle is surreal. It’s definitely one of our proudest moments here at Three Notch’d.”

The distillery expects Brewers Batch to be available in select Virginia ABC stores in the coming weeks. A small amount will be available online and in the D.C. market in March. The 750 ml bottle retails for $64.59 plus tax. 250 cases were produced.